Automatic hygroscopic type air vent



Patented Oct. 6,

AUTOMATIGHYGROSGOPICTYPE'AIRFVENT fWiIliamiM."Grosvenor, J r; "NeW" Yoi'l Las- Signor vmifi'IaQoJ Heaters, Incorporated,'*Providen'ee, R,.1.,"acorporation of New York :Application March 10, 19,49, Serial'Nor80,603

--s team, condensing so astocause the valve to shut ofi,..sucha .valve being especially-adaptable for use ina steam heating system; or other system .requiring venti-ng of- ;air-or .gas.

steam [heating .system' radiators, it .is well "i k-nowilvthatwit is necessary to vent-theair or gases in a radiator so that the steam as itenters gtl e radiatorrcan completely fill the same and .-.then provide maximum heat transmission from z-the-wallsof the radiator. As the steam con- 4 ienses in a radiator :and when the supply is cut .ofl'fa vacuum-will lie-formed therein. Previous- 1 1y, various. typesl o f valves. have been employed nfer the purpose -of venting the air from such an.arrang einent yet eshutting 011. when steam reaches thesame, .but'lthes havenot been satisf,actory.for various reasons.

"'One'type of such a valvefis'the well known thermostatic arrangementfthe thermostat closiing "OK "the outlet"'of "the"'valve"'.when steam reachesthe' same. Suj'ch 'a'valve is'rather' compiicated in design'and' may'besubje'ct' to erratic ;operation. The; thermostat normal-lywill' notoperate rapidly "so that considerablesteam may escape into the room. 'Ofne'o'f the most important 'deiectsin 'a thermostaticaljly' controlled valve and "in othertypes "*of :previously 'kncwn valves is their =failure to close'off andprevent'thepassage of steam into *the *room where itscondensation may "damage surrounding articles.

*Another defectin previous -valves'is the noise involved as the valve-vents; then closes and re- One of the-principal objects of the invention -is to provide an i automatic steam vent 'valve whichavill' vent air or substantially dry gas from rt-he radiator or. other" systembut which will preevent ethextpassage of steam or. liquid therefrom.

TiIn-one aspect-of the invention, a fibrous'means -ccapable ofrpassing'air when dry or substantially -:dry,",is..:interpsed between the inlet and outlet passageways "in the bodyof asteam vent valve.

The fibrous means has associated therewith, or tin contact therewith, a means .to accelerate -.op,enin g or venting-of the passageway between the-inlet and-outlet. of the valve after the valve l-ias closed ofiand airis present to be vented.

.Tliefibrous body is normally. pervious to air but .substantially impervious to waterupon becoming wetythe steam condensing in 'or'on' the fifbrous' member so as to wetthe'same. A fibrous member by itself, however, 4 will not normally i.'2 iunctionpropeflybecause -of-the difiiculty. in its reopening tola venting condition rafterv itr has .once become wet. Thisdifficulty :isaccentuated .byithe vacuum createdinside of a radiatorrasthe steam.,coridenses'the1*ein.

' In.one form o f'the invention, a springwwasher arrangement can fbe-lemployed -to 'assist-zinrp oviding a passageway ,from the inlet passage: =of the valve -tomtheaoutlet or -to accelerate retinmaof the'fibrous =membermto a-r venting-condition.

In another aspect of thesin ventionma solid -metal washer pr other arrangementfin {contact wither directly adj acent ,the fibrous, member-can .be used, said.metal--.-washeror ringaccumrmflat- -ing' heatobtained or-conducted: from the-radiator when ..the. fibrous member. is.- subjected etc steam, .and .giving- (up. such accumulatedaheat when the fibrous member is no- .longensubjected .to steam .so as to. assist.inetheadsying -outaand therefore therppening up-of thefibrous body ito permit the 1 passage chairtherethrough. --"I; hus, lithe metal'washer; heat stor-ing.3:,:or heat conduct- .ing material will-accelerate; thez returi r ofe the Tfibrofus .materiaLto. a: venting condition.

' Thel'fibrous' body preferably-should Joe-madepf g 'b. sapa l w r n wetting with-mete Orae like,.lof swelling. a majoramount "when. in anru-nconfined condition. Such a swelling shouldabe reasonably. rapid: so that when-thefi-brous body is. conironted with-steam .or condensed-steam; it

will. swellsuffici-ently rapidlytosclose-thmpassage "between the inlet and outletyportscotthe-valve -body in which itis located.

Lin 2. ifurther and preferred aspect' of the invention, a'fiber can be employed, such as one gof c lu os fiber. a m lv ssed l the manu lture of paper or paper board and which hasmot been subsequentlytreated sea-as to reduceathe swellingcharacteristicssucmas by vulcanizing.

"Such a'fiber will be termedrhereinas untreat- -.ed l-u e e $1 =Suc -afi er nor y is made from woodzpulp.

. As one example..ofnsuchsafiber ha ing unreduced swelling characteristics=-is;.-az lgrafttprocess .iiber. Thebody and :iibersvpreferably can be chosento have .at. least apredetermined rea1 .volume in. relation. to the active oractualspace occupied by." the fibrous bdd a id tohave ..a--.pr.e-

"determined swell rate when. uncor'ifined."il1?he term activespacemeans.the actualspace occupied by the'fibrous body or; plurality 15f mem- "be s after Dnce wet by thes mr ofi e 'steam."""1Swe11 ratecan"be defined thelpercentage increaseinihickness of.the"norma1ly dry fibrous 'body 'perisp'ecifiedtunit of timefas it becomesfwet. The "choice ofiibrous bodyfpr'efel ably should "be made so that when swelling of the fibers composing the fibrous body occurs under unrestrained conditions, the swelling will more than cause the body to fill the active space occupied thereby.

The fibrous body when relatively dry can have intercommunicating pores therethrough which will be squeezed shut when the fibrous body becomes exposed to the steam or condensed steam and the body is confined between walls of a cavity restraining structure or arrangement. As previously mentioned, the valve body may have an inlet passage and an outlet passage with the fibrous body arranged to be interposed across said passage.

When the fibrous body becomes wet and is restrained, the body will absorb only enough condensed steam to create a pressure sufficient to prevent a further passage of steam, thus, within certain limits, the valve will function independent of pressure in the radiator or heating system in which it is used. Evaporation of liquid or condensed steam from the outer surface of the fibrous body will be replaced by condensed steam from the inlet passage of the valve. In a preferred form, the fibers of the fibrous body are substantially randomly oriented in substantially parallel layers. Preferably, the fibers are transverse of the passage between the inlet and outlet of the valve body as distinguished from a longitudinal arrangement.

The fibrous body may consist of one unit or may consist of a plurality of layers or individual bodies or wafers. The spring or washer elements may be placed as desired in the stack between various bodies or exteriorly thereof.

In a further aspect of the invention, a wood fiber which has had some subsequent chemical and/or physical treatment can be employed if it has a sufiiciently rapid swell rate.

' One of the main advantages of the invention is that the valve will permit air to be vented from the system but Will not allow steam to escape therefrom. The valve combination can be manufactured and assembled economically with ease, particularly because of the lack of critical adjustments necessary in the structure and assembly.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings which are merely exemplary.

Figure 1 is an elevation view of one form of the invention with the valve in venting condition.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, Figure 2 being at right angles to the view shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side view of one of the springs looking in the direction of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a side view looking in the direction 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a valve arrangement similar to Figures 1 and 2 with the fibrous members expanded and in closed position, together with a modified form of inlet passage to the fibrous body.

Figure 7 is a modified form of the invention showing solid rings instead of springs used between the fibrous members for vent accelerating purposes.

Valve body I0 (Figs. 1, 2) can be made of metal or any other suitable material, said body having an inlet passage 1 I with a restricted aperture I2 leading to the fibrous body cavity I3. Fibrous body cavity I3 may have suitable apertures or outlet passages M for permitting the escape of air therefrom, said passages being of sufiicient size to assist in the drying action of the fibrous body when reopening is required. Cap I5 is screw-threadedly engaged with valve body ID to form the top of cavity l3. Bottom wall l6 thereof serves as one wall of the restraining walls of fibrous body cavity l 3. A manually operable quick vent valve 20 may be provided for the purpose of quick venting of the valve manually if desired.

The fibrous body of the form shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a plurality of fibrous elements or wafers I! located between wall [6 of cap I5 and wall 18 of the valve body, the fibrous elements having central apertures l9 therethrough. The fibrous bodies or elements will be described in detail hereafter.

The fibrous body or elements in cavity [3 preferably are made from a kraft process fiber although other similar fibers can be employed. As an example of one type of satisfactory fibrous body, the fiber thereof in its manufacture can be medium well-cooked and beaten and the fiber board made on a conventional wet machine. Preferably, the fibers are arranged in parallel layers with the fibers in each layer randomly oriented therein.

As an example of the characteristics of a satisfactory fibrous body, one can be used having an apparent density of from 0.80 to 1.40 with an initial swell rate for the first minute of more than 5% when exposed to Water with the body unrestrained. In one suitable fiber, the initial swell rate is 20% for the first minute and will swell in 5 minutes, such fiber being a kraft process fiber manufactured as described above. The swell rate is not necessarily a straight line relationship but must be rapid or quick during the first minute. The particular swell rate of the fibrous body also is related to the real volume of the fibers. Another example is a wood fiber having some chemical treatment, such a fibrous body having a swell rate of 5% in the first minute and 21% in 5 minutes.

The real volume of the fibers of the fibrous body preferably should be a certain predetermined volume of the active space of the fibrous body. If the real volume of the fibers is at least 50% of the volume of the active space thereof, it has been found that the fibrous body or elements will satisfactorily close off and prevent the fiow of steam from the valve.

In the form shown in Figures 1 and 2, a dished spring metal washer arrangement 2|, 21 is employed between the middle pair of fibrous discs and the two outer pairs. The springs can take the form shown in Figures 4 and 5, it being noted that Figure 5 is at right angles to Figure 4. It is, of course, evident that other types of similar dished springs or springs having other shapes may be used for the purpose. With such an arrangement, the springs introduced into the stack of fiber discs help to compress the discs on the drying part of the cycle of operation of the radiator vent valve so that breaking of the vacuum or venting occurs with sufiicient rapidity to produce satisfactory operation and quick opening of the valve. The springs may be placed in various locations and may be on top of the pile or the bottom thereof as desired. In the case of a single fibrous body, the spring washers can be arranged on either side thereof or there may be washers on both sides.

When steam condenses and reaches the fibrous elements I! (Fig. 6), the elements will expand and flatten out the springs 21 and thus close off passage between inlet H and outlet M of the valve. The pressure exerted by the fibrous body within the restraining cavity will serve to close off the interstices between the fibers and thus prevent passage of steam therethrough. In the form of the invention shown in Figure 6, there are auxiliary ports 22 on either side of the central aperture l2, said ports 22 leading to the fibrous bodies H,

In a further modified form of the invention, fibrous elements 23 (Fig. 7) may have metal washer elements 24 with apertures therein'placed in the stack of fibrous elements, said fibrous elements being held in cavity 25 of valve body 26 by screw-threadedly engaged cap 21. The fibrous elements are located between outlet passages 28 and inlet passage 23. The metal discs or Washers 24 are selected so that they will be of sufficient size to retain enough heat following venting to assist in drying of the fibrous elements and thus accelerate Venting thereof in a manner similar to the vent accelerating action of the springs in the previously described form.

The metal springs of Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, also may have some benefit derived through the retention of heat thereby to assist in accelerating the opening of the fibrous elements involved. It is, of course, apparent that the valve body may be so designed that the valve body itself will serve as a heat retaining member and thus assist in the vent accelerating action on the fibrous elements of the steam vent valve.

The steam vent valve of the present invention can be used in various places where it is desired to vent air or gas from a space and yet prevent the passage of steam therefrom and at the same time promptly break a vacuum occurring in the system after the steam condenses in the system or is cut off. Various modifications can be made in the details of the construction described without departing from the spirit of the invention except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an automatic steam vent valve, the combination comprising a valve body having a cavity with inlet and outlet passages therein, a fibrous means located in said cavity between said inlet and outlet passages directly. controlling fiow through said cavity, said fibrous means passing air to said outlet and being impervious to the passage of steam thereto, and metallic vent accelerating spring washer means in contact with said fibrous means for assisting in the initial opening up of the passage between said inlet and outlet passages after said fibrous means has closed off said passage due to the presence of steam and the fibrous means is no longer subjected to steam.

2. In an automatic steam vent valve, the combination comprising a valve body having a cavity with inlet and outlet passages therein, a plurality of fibrous wafers located in said cavity between said inlet and outlet passages, said fibrous wafers passing air to said outlet and being impervious to the passage of steam, and spring washer vent accelerating means inserted between said fibrous wafers for assisting in the opening up of the passage between said inlet and outlet passages after said fibrous wafers have closed off said passage due to the presence of steam and the fibrous means is no longer subjected to steam.

3. In an automatic steam vent valve, the combination comprising a valve body having a cavity with inlet and outlet passages therein, a plurality of fibrous wafers located in said cavity between said inlet and outlet passages, said fibrous wafers passing air to said outlet and being impervious to the passage of steam and heat retaining metal washers in contact with and between said fibrous Wafers for assisting in drying out said fibrous wafers to open up the passage between said inlet and outlet passages after said fibrous wafers have closed up said passage due to the presence of steam.

4. In an automatic steam vent valve, the combination comprising a valve body having a cavity with inlet and outlet passages therein, a fibrous means located in said cavity between said inlet and outlet passages directly controlling the fiow through said cavity, the real volume of the fibers of said fibrous body being at least 50% of the active volume of the fibrous body with a swell rate of at least 5% in the first minute, the fibers being randomly oriented in substantially parallel layers, and metallic spring washer vent accelerating means connected with said fibrous means for assisting in the initial opening up of the passage between said inlet and outlet passages after said fibrous means has closed 01? the passage due to the presence of steam.

5. In. an automatic steam vent valve, the combination comprising a valve body having a cavity with inlet and outlet passages therein, a plurality of fibrous wafers located in said cavity between said inlet and outlet passages, the real volume of the fibers of said fibrous body being at least 50% of the active volume of the fibrous body with a swell rate of at least 5% in the first minute, the fibers being randomly oriented in substantially parallel layers, and dished spring vent accelerating means between said fibrous washers for assisting in the opening up of the passage between said inlet and outlet passages after said fibrous means has closed oiI the passage due to the presence of steam.

6. In an automatic steam vent valve, the combination comprising a valve body having an annular chamber with outlet passages in the walls thereof, an inlet passage connected to said chamber, a closing cap for said chamber, a plurality oi fibrous wafer between said cap and the inlet passage Wall of said chamber, said wafers being across the passage between said inlet and outlet passages, the real volume of the fibers of said wafers being at least 50% of the active volume thereof and having a swell rate of at least 5% the first minute, the fibers being randomly oriented in substantially parallel layers, and vent accelerating dish like spring washer means between said wafers for assisting in opening up the passage between the inlet and outlet.

WILLIAM M. GROSVENOR, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,162,170 Johnson Nov. 30, 1915 1,326,647 Cotton Dec. 30, 1919 1,575,247 Anderson Mar. 2, 1926 1,624,774 Bauer Apr. 12, 1927 2,042,462 Hahn June 2, 1936 2,153,726 Scoppola Apr. 11, 1939 2,331,431 Simoneau Oct. 12, 1943 2,467,217 Mikeska Apr. 12, 1949 

